Official Proceedings

Pope County 

Board of Commissioners 

Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, MAY 7, 2024

The Pope County Board of Commissioners Regular Board Meeting duly noticed for Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 9:00 AM at the Pope County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Board Room, 130 E Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, MN 56334 was called to order at 9:00 AM by the Chair, Paul Gerde, with the following Board Members also present: Paul Gremmels, Larry Lindor, Gordy Wagner, and Paul Wildman.  Neil Nelson, County Attorney; and Kersten Kappmeyer, County Administrator, were also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda; Approval of Official Proceedings for April 16, 2024; and Consider Appointment of Pope County Representative to the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Policy Committee were presented by Chair Gerde. Motion to approve the agenda as presented, made by Gremmels and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve the Official Proceedings from April 16, 2024 as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. The Board Chair appointed Commissioner Paul Wildman as the Sauk River Watershed Collaborative Policy Committee representative.

Consider Recommendation to Award ARPA Child Care Grant to Minnewaska School District for Starbuck Child Care Center was presented by Jason Murray, HRA-EDA Director; and Chip Rankin, Minnewaska Schools Superintendent. Motion to approve the ARPA child care grant application of Minnewaska Schools in the amount of $75,000 for renovations and improvements to the lower level of the Starbuck School building for child care purposes, made by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Renewed Request by Sunrise Energy Ventures for Change in Solar Installation Permit Condition from Cash Assurance to Letter of Credit was presented by Michael Cathcart, Sunrise Energy Ventures. Motion to deny request from Sunrise Energy Ventures for SolarClub 3, LLC to convert solar installation permit #20067 condition #4 set on July 7, 2020 from cash assurance of $125,781 to a letter of credit, made by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Conditional Use Permit: Storage Structure Exceeding 1100 Square Feet (Douvier, Bangor Township); Interim Use Permit: Recreational Vehicle (Kostuch, Reno Township); Conditional Use Permit: Dog Boarding Facility (Molitor, Glenwood Township); PLSS Remonumentation Grant Application Update; and 2023 County Feedlot Officer (CFO) Annual Report was presented by Jessica Hill, Deputy Land & Resource Director/Zoning Administrator. Motion to accept the Planning Advisory Commission recommendation and approve of the conditional use permit request of Douvier for a storage structure exceeding 1100 square feet with recommended conditions as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept the Planning Advisory Commission’s recommendation and approve of the Interim Use Permit of Kostuch to allow a recreational vehicle with recommended conditions as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Advisory Commission and approval of the Conditional Use Permit of Molitor for a dog boarding facility with recommended conditions as presented, made by Wildman and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously. An update was given to the Board on the County’s fully-funded award of a PLSS Remonumentation Grant on the County’s application, with an agreement likely to be brought to accept at a future Board meeting. Motion to authorize the Chairman to sign the 2023 County Feedlot Officer Annual Report as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. 

Consider Donation per Policy and Statute of Obsolete Surplus Information Technology Assets was presented by Bryan Gates, Information Technology Director. Motion to approve donation of surplus identified Information Technology property, obsolete laptop computer units, to the Pope County Agricultural Society as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. 

Highway Department Monthly Report; Establish Public Hearing Date and Time Regarding 5-Year Road Improvement Program; Ad for Bids – SAP 061-617-012; and Award Contract – CP 061-024-001 were presented by Brian Giese, Engineer. The Highway Department Monthly Report was offered as an informational item. Motion to set a public hearing for the consideration of an updated 5-Year Road Improvement Program at 9:00 am or shortly thereafter on May 21, 2024, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to approve and authorize the advertisement for bids for the construction of SAP 061-617-012, made by Wildman and seconded by Lindor, Carried Unanimously. Motion to award a contract to Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC of Edina, MN for the completion of CP 061-024-001 in the amount of $147,491.10 based on estimated quantities and provided unit prices, made by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously.

Consider Authorization to Purchase General Fleet Cars Off of Lease and Consider Acceptance of a Quote for Furnishings for Auditor/Treasurer’s Office Remodel were presented by Kersten Kappmeyer, Administrator. Motion to authorize purchase of two vehicles — a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox and a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu — off lease from Enterprise for $6,605.66 and $4,579.74, respectively, as presented, made by Lindor and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously. Motion to accept and authorize execution of a quote for furnishings for the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office in the amount of $100,536.07 from Intereum through Omnia Partners as presented, made by Wagner and seconded by Gremmels, Carried Unanimously. 

Pay Bills, Supplemental Bills, Per Diems and Employee Reimbursements was presented by Kelly Detloff, Chief Deputy Auditor/Treasurer. Motion to approve payment of bills of $117,537.78 plus employee reimbursements of $548.32, totaling $118,086.10, made by Wagner and seconded by Wildman, Carried Unanimously, and were paid as follows: American Solutions For Business $4,986.77; Horizon Public Health $20,021.50; L & O Acres Transport Inc $5,120.50; LVC Companies, Inc $13,620.00; Minnesota Counties Computer Coop $4,080.00; Minnesota State Auditor $12,297.35; Mn Counties Intergovernmental Trust/M $2,500.00; MN Department of Transportation $2,000.00; Obenland & Nelson $7,676.05; Prairie Lakes Youth Programs $11,656.00; RDO Equipment Co $2,793.94; Squires, Waldspurger & Mace PA  $3,096.00; Vertex Unmanned Solutions, LLC $5,053.00; 44 Payments of less than $2000  $22,636.67. Motion to enter the Per Diem Expense Reports into the record, made by Lindor and seconded by Wagner, Carried Unanimously.

Informational updates were given by the County Attorney, County Administrator, and County Commissioners, and there being no other business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 11:01 AM.

Kersten Kappmeyer,

County Administrator

Paul Gerde,

Chair of the Board

May 27